‘The opportunity is palpable’

There is a confluence of economics and a need for security

It began with a young man? driving 4,000km a month through dusty country lanes in India, to establish a sales network for his grandmother’s debt-laden company, which produced hydraulic pumps. Afterwards, Malhoutra stayed in the driver’s seat, working with India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation on hydraulic parts ?for battle tanks, before venturing? into aeronautics. Today, Dynamatic Technologies supplies complex? parts to Airbus, Boeing and Bell Helicopter, and has been referred? to as the ‘Infosys of aerospace manufacturing’. “The government thrust comes at the right time,” says Malhoutra. “The world is a more insecure place with wars, there is economic expansion in the East. There is a confluence of economics and a need for security.” The opportunity is palpable. “There’s no lottery in any business. Aerospace and defence are difficult industries that need know-how, artisanal skill among blue-collar workers and industrial engineering capabilities to create innovative, world-class products with utter cost competitiveness—things we’ve learned and perfected over ?two decades.” The Indian industry? can grow in different ways, he says. “We can build a price, engineering or market model.”